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Former Sen. Dick Lugar Gives First Talk Since Leaving Congress

January 30, 2013

Mary Linsley

Former GOP Sen. Richard “Dick” Lugar, who represented Indiana for 36 consecutive years, will discuss the nation’s divisive political climate on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.

“An Evening with Former Senator Dick Lugar” begins at 5 p.m. in Fleishman Commons and is free and open to the public. An audience Q&A will follow the talk. The event is part of the Terry Sanford Distinguished Lecture series, which brings notable leaders to speak at Duke.

“Too often in recent years, members of Congress have locked themselves to a slate of inflexible positions, many of which have no hope of being implemented in a divided government,” Lugar said in his farewell speech on the Senate floor, as reported by The Washington Post. “Too often we have failed to listen to one another and question whether the orthodox views being promulgated by our parties make strategic sense for America’s future.”

In April 2006, Time magazine selected Lugar as one of America’s 10 Best Senators. First elected to the Senate in 1976, Lugar was the most senior Republican member when he left office on Jan. 3 of this year. He was a ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, and was a co-sponsor of the Dream Act in 2005.

Event parking is available at the Science Drive or Bryan Center visitor lots. The event is not ticketed and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The talk can also be viewed online at www.ustream.tv/Duke-University.